Publication date: Jul 30, 2025

To investigate the association between weight loss before joining the U. S. Army and rates of musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) during physically demanding Basic Combat Training (BCT). Self-reported weight loss was collected on 3168 Army trainees who were followed through electronic medical records for diagnosis of any and region-specific MSKI. Cox regression models were stratified by sex and COVID-19 pandemic and adjusted for age, height, maximum-ever BMI, race/ethnicity, smoking history, prior physical activity, and history of injury. A total of 829 trainees (26. 16%) reported losing weight to enter the Army with mean (SD) weight loss of 9. 06 (8. 62) kg, most commonly through exercise (83. 72%). Trainees who lost weight to enter the Army had lower rates of any (HR: 0. 86; 95% CI: 0. 74, 0. 99) and lower extremity (HR: 0. 84; 95% CI: 0. 72, 0. 98) MSKI during BCT compared to trainees who did not lose weight. Rate of weight loss (mean [SD]: 1. 27 [1. 06] kg/week) was not associated with any or region-specific MSKI. Results indicate that losing excess weight before military training may minimize injuries during training and the relatively gradual rate of weight loss in these trainees did not pose a higher risk of injury.

Semantics

Original Article